Coupling.



J. O. MARTIN & H. W. SCHEILER.

COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1911.

1,020,431 Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Witnesses Z Attq rneyst;

COLUMBIA PLANOOBAPH (0-, WASHINGTON, B. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. MARTIN AND HENRY WILLIAM SCHEILER, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO ALBERT A. AHRENS, OF LINCOLN, ILLINOIS.

COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Application filed August 28, 1911. Serial No. 646,305.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JoIIN O. MARTIN and HENRY WV. SCHEILER, citizens of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Logan, State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to car couplers and is particularly adapted for use in connection with mine ears.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel draw-head for the engagement with a draw-bar having an opening therein, and which draw-head may he readily operated from the side of the car to release the draw-bar.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention isembodied in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawingsnvherein similar reference characters indicate simi lar parts and wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of a car embodying a drawhead at one end and a draw-bar at the other end constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the drawhead. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the draw -bar. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of F g. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Flg. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the locking member within the drawhead.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the car is designated by the numeral 5,the drawbar is designated at 6 which is pivoted to the draw-bar rigging 21 by means of an integral bushing 7 near the inner end thereof through which the pin 19 passes. In the outer end of the draw-bar 6 is an opening 9 and the inner end 8 of the draw-bar is arranged to strike the downwardly facing shoulder 20 of the draw-bar rigging to normally hold the draw-bar in horizontal position. The draw-bar may be swung vertically against the end of the car and on the said end of the car is provided a catch 25 which may be swung to engage the end of the draw-bar when swung upward to retain same in raised position.

The draw-bar comprises a casing or body 10 which is secured to the under side of one end of the car in any convenient manner and is provided with an outer socket. In

the bottom of the body 10 is a longitudinal slot 21- having a lip 18 arranged at the outer end thereof across the lower edges of the slot. An approximately L-shaped catch is pivoted intermediate the ends of the said slot by means of the trunnions 11 projecting from the sides thereof. Normally the long arm 13 of the said catch rests on the lip 18 thus holding the shorter arm 12 in an upright position within the socket of the draw-head, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In the top of the draw-head is an opening 26. A latch 14 is pivoted at its rear end within the said opening 26 in the top of the draw-head, the rear end of the said latch resting on a transverse ridge 17 within the draw-head and a cross-piece 23 extending over the rear end of the said latch above the said ridge. The latch 14. is provided in its forward or free end with an opening 13 which is adapted to engage the free end of the arm 13 of the catch upon the said. arm being raised. The rear end of the latch 14 projects beyond the pivotal point. A transverse shaft 21. is journalcd through the draw-head and has a crank 15 within the draw-head bearing on the rear or inner end of the latch 14 whereby upon the said shaft being turned the rear end of the latch may be depressed to raise the forward end thereof. Said shaft 21 passes to the sides of the car and at each side is provided with a crank 22 for the purpose of manually turning the shaft.

In operation, it being understood that the draw-bar 6 is in horizontal position and the catch has the arm 13 thereof swung downward to bring the short arm 12 thereof upright within the draw-head, upon the drawbar of one car entering the draw-head of another car, the end thereof strikes the short arm 12 of the catch within the draw-head swinging the catch inwardly and raising the longer arm 13 which passes through the opening 9 to engage the long arm 13 with the latch 1-1, the end of the arm 13 entering the opening 15 of the latch. The cars are in this manner automatically coupled as they are brought together and the catch being engaged with the latch 14L securely holds the draw-bar in connection with the drawhead. To uncouple the cars the catch may be released to swing forward by turning the shaft 21 which in depressing the rear or inner end of the latch raises the forward or other end to free the arm 13 of the catch thus permitting the draw-bar to be Withdrawn from the draw-head. The catch is thus returned to normal position.

lVhat is claimed as new is:

A draw-head comprising a body having a socket in the outer end thereof, having a longitudinal slot in the bottom thereof and an opening in the top thereof, a lip at the outer end of the said slot across the lower edges thereof, a ridge Within the draw-head at the rear end of the said opening, and a cross-piece over the said ridge, an L-shaped catch pivoted intermediate the ends of the said slot and having the long arm thereof adapted to normally rest on the said lip to bring the short arm in an upright position Within the draw-head, and a latch pivoted between the said ridge and cross-piece having the rear end thereof projecting beyond the said cross-piece and having an opening in the forward end thereof arranged to engage the free end of the long arm of the catch upon the same being raised, and a shaft journaled through the draw-head and having a crank Within the draw-head resti ng on the inner end of the said latch Whereby upon the shaft being rotated the inner end of the latch is depressed.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN O. MARTIN. HENRY WVILLIAM SCHEILER.

Witnesses GEO. A. SEYFER, DAVID W. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of lPatents, Washington, D. G. 

